The Biblical Concept of Worship. An Exposition of John 4:23-24 (PDF)

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2009 in the subject Theology - Biblical Theology, grade: A-, , course: PASTORAL STUDIES, language: English, abstract: The desire to worship is one of the in-built components of human beings. In a general sense, whatever man reveres, adores, depends on and trusts or has faith in, it becomes like a god to him or her. This god normally has a special place in the heart of man - this leads to man spending much time, energy and resources on it. It can be said that man literally worships whatever serves as a god to him/her.

In a spiritual sense, worship is offered to a supreme being. This worship is done as appreciation to the Supreme Being and also to smoothen the relationship between the worshipper and the Supreme Being. The idea and concept of worship in Africa precedes the coming of Christianity to the African continent. Worship is the vital aspect of the African Traditional Religion (A.T.R). It presents to the African man the idea of a supreme being existing somewhere in the spirit world, which could be reached through semi-gods or small gods such as the ancestors and the spirits.

Virtually all the basic necessities of man have gods in charge of them, e.g. there is the god of rainfall, the god of fertility, the god of war etc. These gods are constantly worshipped or appeased when the need arises.

Christians from such religious backgrounds often worship the Christian God from the African Traditional Religion (A.T.R) perspective leading to syncretism. Evangelism brings people from the African Traditional Religion (A.T.R), but it takes discipleship to change the African Traditional Religion (A.T.R) concept of worship to the worship of the Christian God.

This research explores the biblical concept of worship as defined by Jesus Christ in John 4:23-24. The aim is to remedy the syncrestic worship that has encroached into African Christianity.